The potential benefits of extra screening for glycated haemoglobin, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol on donor health management and retention.

Background And Objectives: An extra health screening, including glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), was initiated for regular donors aged over 40 in Taiwan in November 2015. This study aimed to determine its benefits on donor health management and retention.

Materials And Methods: A stratified random mail survey was conducted among donors who received HbA1c, TC and LDL-C screening between November 2015 and June 2017 to investigate their awareness of the screening, medical histories and post-screening behaviours.

NAMPT enhances LOX expression and promotes metastasis in human chondrosarcoma cells by inhibiting miR-26b-5p synthesis.

Chondrosarcoma is a malignant bone tumor that emerges from abnormalities in cartilaginous tissue and is related with lung metastases. Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) is an adipocytokine reported to enhance tumor metastasis. Our results from clinical samples and the Gene Expression Omnibus data set reveal that NAMPT levels are markedly higher in chondrosarcoma patients than in normal individuals.

Impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on the collection and use of blood and blood components in Taiwan.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted the supply and transfusion of blood components. This study aims to evaluate changes in blood collection and transfusions during the period following the nationwide Level 3 alert (May-July 2021).

Methods: We retrieved usage data for red blood cells (RBC) from the Taiwan National Health Insurance (NHI) database 2019-2021.

NGF facilitates ICAM-1-dependent monocyte adhesion and M1 macrophage polarization in rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disorder in which monocytes adhering to synovial tissue differentiate into the pro-inflammatory M1 macrophage phenotype. Nerve growth factors (NGF) referred to as neurotrophins have been associated with inflammatory events; however, researchers have yet to elucidate the role of NGF in RA. Our examination of clinical tissue samples and analysis of data sourced from the Gene Expression Omnibus dataset unveiled elevated expression levels of M1 macrophage markers in human RA synovial tissue samples compared to normal tissue, with no such distinction observed for M2 markers.

Hypoxia-regulated exosomes mediate M2 macrophage polarization and promote metastasis in chondrosarcoma.

Chondrosarcoma is a primary malignant bone tumor. Traditional therapy is not very effective, and it is prone to metastasis in the late stage. The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a key role in the progression and metastasis of chondrosarcoma, and hypoxia is one of the key factors in the formation of TME.

Using multivariate nonlinear mixed-effects model to investigate factors influencing symptom improvement after high tibial osteotomy in combination with bone marrow concentrate injection for medial compartment knee osteoarthritis: a prospective, open-label study.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of various demographic, structural, radiographic, and clinical factors on the prognosis of patients with medial compartmental knee osteoarthritis with varus deformity undergoing medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy (HTO) in combination with bone marrow concentrate (BMC) injection.

Methods: In this prospective study, 20 patients underwent medial opening wedge HTO in combination with BMC injection with 12 months of follow-up. The structural and radiographic outcomes were evaluated by femorotibial angle and posterior tibial slope angle.

Degree of Pelvic Rotation in the Coronal Plane on Postoperative Radiographs Obtained after Total Hip Arthroplasty.

There are many published cup anteversion measurements for postoperative total hip arthroplasty (THA), including Liaw’s, Lewinnek’s, and Murray’s methods. However, most measurements ignore the potential pelvic rotation on radiographs except in Liaw’s method. Without considering pelvic rotation, clinicians can miscalculate cup anteversion.

Curbing COVID-19 progression and mortality with traditional Chinese medicine among hospitalized patients with COVID-19: A propensity score-matched analysis.

Background: Viral- and host-targeted traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulae NRICM101 and NRICM102 were administered to hospitalized patients with COVID-19 during the mid-2021 outbreak in Taiwan. We report the outcomes by measuring the risks of intubation or admission to intensive care unit (ICU) for patients requiring no oxygen support, and death for those requiring oxygen therapy.

Methods: This multicenter retrospective study retrieved data of 840 patients admitted to 9 hospitals between May 1 and July 26, 2021.

Dengue Virus Ribonucleic Acid Detection Rates in Blood Donors Correlate With Local Infection Incidences During a Dengue Outbreak in Taiwan.

Background: Evidence for mitigation of transfusion-transmitted dengue informed by surveillance data is lacking. In this study, we evaluated the risk of positive dengue viral (DENV) ribonucleic acid (RNA) from blood transfusions during a large outbreak in Taiwan.

Methods: Serum collected from blood donors living in districts experiencing the dengue epidemic were tested for DENV RNA using a qualitative transcription-mediated nucleic acid amplification assay (TMA).

The continued decline of plasma transfusions in Taiwan: An 11-year population-based study.

Background And Objectives: In Taiwan, plasma use per capita ranks among the highest in the world. We aimed to describe the trends in usage after the introduction of new hospital accreditation standards that evaluate compliance with institutional plasma transfusion guidelines.

Materials And Methods: We identified hospitalizations receiving plasma between 2007 and 2017 from the national health insurance database.

Outcomes of different minimally invasive surgical treatments for vertebral compression fractures: An observational study.

Background: Osteoporosis with vertebral compression fractures is increasingly common in the elderly population. Cement augmentation is one of the effective surgical treatments for these patients. Currently, there are several different types of cement augmentation treatments.

An imbalance in blood collection and demand is anticipated to occur in the near future in Taiwan.

Due to excessive clinical blood usage and a rapidly aging population, an impending blood shortage in Taiwan is inevitable. This study aimed to determine the potential blood deficit in Taiwan in 2030. The numbers of units of whole blood (WB) donated and red blood cells (RBC) transfused will increase from 1,182,973 to 1,115,803 in 2018 to 1,230,500 and 1,250,760 in 2030, respectively.

The efficacy of ethnic specific blood groups genotyping for routine donor investigation and rare donor identification in Taiwan.

Background: Large-scale single nucleotide variation (SNV)-based blood group genotyping assays have been made available for over a decade. Due to differences in ethnic groups, there is much diversity in clinically important blood group antigens and genetic variants. Here, we developed a robust matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF)-based blood group genotyping method on MassARRAY system.

Universal Detection of Mi Antigen and Frequencies of Glycophorin Hybrids among Blood Donors in Taiwan by Human Monoclonal Antibodies against Mi (MNS7), Mur (MNS10), and MUT (MNS35) Antigens.

Glycophorin hybrids such as GP.Mur are common in Southeast Asians. In Taiwan, clinically significant alloantibodies to the GP.

Clinical use of intravenous immunoglobulin in Taiwan: A 10-year population study.

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is used in the treatment of immunological, inflammatory and neurological conditions. We aimed to describe the trends in IVIG utilization in Taiwan. We identified patients receiving IVIG through the national health insurance (NHI) database.

CXCL1 contributes to IL-6 expression in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts by CXCR2, c-Raf, MAPK, and AP-1 pathway.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are common joint disorders that are considered to be different diseases due to their unique molecular mechanisms and pathogenesis. Chemokines and their corresponding receptors have been well characterized in RA progression, but less so in OA pathogenesis.

Methods: The human primary synovial fibroblasts (SFs) were obtained from human OA and RA tissue samples.

Ellipse method for measuring Liaw's anteversion of the acetabular component after total hip arthroplasty.

Background: Several cup anteversion measurements for post-operative total hip arthroplasty (THA) surgery have been described. We developed the standardized Liaw's trigonometric method to eliminate the influence of patient position, which is the most accurate method for cup anteversion measurement. We then developed an ellipse method using the Elliversion software and reported an interobserver error reduction in 2013.

Secular Trends and Geographic Maps of Hepatitis C Virus Infection among 4 Million Blood Donors in Taiwan from 1999 to 2017.

The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Taiwan was approximately 4% a decade ago, much higher than the worldwide average. This study aimed to assess the HCV burden among 4 million voluntary blood donors after 2 decades of prevention and treatment policies. We retrieved screening results for anti-HCV and HCV RNA from the Database for Evaluating Voluntary Taiwanese Eligible Donors.

Investigation of transfusion associated hepatitis C virus infection in Taiwan, 2015-2018.

Continuous strengthening of the safety of blood products to reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted HCV in recipients is an important issue of Taiwanese government concern. Since 2013, highly sensitivity serology and NAT assays were simultaneously used for blood donation screening to shorten the window period of HIV, HBV and HCV infections. 15 cases of suspected transfusion-transmitted HCV infection were analyzed in 2015-2018.

Comparison between different screening strategies to determine the statistical shape model of the pelvises for implant design.

Background And Objectives: The statistical shape model (SSM) of numerous bones has been used to determine the anatomical representative of the population- or race-specific design for periarticular implants. Whether to include size- and profile-mismatched bones in the SSM calculation is debatable. Therefore, the objective of this study was to characterize the screening strategies for the mismatched bones to improve the SSM calculation.

Secular trends in the distribution of allogeneic blood components in Taiwan.

Recent blood distribution profiles for transfusions in Taiwan have not been comprehensively documented. This study aimed to analyze trends in red blood cell (RBC), platelet, and plasma distribution rates, and compares these profiles with those in other countries. The distribution rates of RBC, platelets, and plasma in Taiwan during 2015 were 47.

CX3CL1 promotes MMP-3 production via the CX3CR1, c-Raf, MEK, ERK, and NF-κB signaling pathway in osteoarthritis synovial fibroblasts.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease that affects the cartilage, synovium, and subchondral bone and is the leading cause of disability in older populations. Specific diagnostic biomarkers are lacking; hence, treatment options for OA are limited. Synovial inflammation is very common in OA joints and has been associated with both OA's symptoms and pathogenesis.